Bullet retainer means for gun perforators



March 9, 1943. G. F. TURECHEK 2,313,493

\ BI JLLE T RETAINER MEANS FOR GUN PERFORATORS Filed Aug. 28, 1939 Fla .1

-11v VEIYTOR G'IOEGE /-T' 7' 0250/15 Q.Q/ ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 9, i943 BULLET RETAINER MEAN S FOR GUN PERFORATORS George F. Turechek, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Lane-Wells Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application August 28, 1939, Serial No. 292,212

1 .Claim. (01. 102-93) My invention relates to bullet retainer means for gun perforators, and among the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a bullet retainer which is adapted to hold a gun perforator bullet in close contact with the powder charge and prevent accidental forward movement of the bullet awa from the powder charge;

Second, to provide a retainer of this character which is adapted to retain the bullet even though the gun perforator is given extremely rough treatment, and in particular, to withstand the ordinary use occasioned by transportation of the gun perforator from the shop to the field, as well as the conditions imposed when the gun perforator is lowered into a well bore for the purpose of perforating a well casing;

Third, to provide a retainer device which, although positioned at the forward end of the bullet, in no manner interferes with discharge of the bullet and which is entirely disintegrated and destroyed;

Fourth, to provide a device of this character which eliminates the need of any grooves or channels in the walls of the gun bore; and

Fifth, to provide a bullet retainer which is particularly simple and economical of manufacture, and easily inserted in the gun bore.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a. fragmentary sectional view of a gun perforator body with a bullet and powder charge shown therein and my special bullet retainer in position;

Figure 2 is an exaggerated fragmentary sectional'view of the gun bore, bullet and retainer, indicating the manner in which the retainer functions to retain the bullet in place;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the retainer; and

Figure 4 is an end View thereof.

A gun body comprises an elongated body I having a plurality of laterally directed gun bores 2. The body is adapted to pass within a well casing and is either suspended from cable or tubing, and includes either mechanical or electrical means for discharge of powder charges 3 located at the rear ends of the several gun bores. Each gun bore receives a bullet 4, preferably formed of hardened steel and having a conical point or nose 5.

My invention consists essentially of a short tubular sleeve ll, preferably formed of resilient material such as rubber, This tube is approximately the diameter of the gun bore and is inserted through the muzzle end into contact with the conical point of the bullet. The walls of the tube are comparatively thin so that both the radially inner and axially inner corner of the tube engages the conical end of the bullet near its point of juncture with the bullet proper, as shown best in Figure 2. It is highly important that the tube deform or constrict inwardly, as shown in Figure 2, in order to conform to the slope of the conical end of the bullet. In so doing a very efficient wedglng action is obtainedthis is indicated by the following data: A rubber tube approximately of an inch long, inch in diameter and having a wall thickness of about of an inch held a bullet substantially the size and shape as that shown in Figure 1 in place, and did not give way until a force of 34 pounds was applied, by actual test. In contrast to this, a ring of rubber having a cylindrical outer surface fitting the gun bore and a conical bore conforming to the bullet point 5 was used; this required only 12 pounds in order to give way. In the construction shown, the bunching up or constriction indicated by I2 in Figure 2 is possible with the construction shown, but cannot occur with a co'nically shaped retainer.

In gun perforators the ability of the retainer to hold the bullet back against the powder charge is of utmost importance for the reason that barrel length is at a premium because of the small diameter tubing in which the gun must fit, and consequently every fraction of an inch that can be gained in effective barrel length is desired. Also, the density of powder in the powder chamber is important; thus if the powder chamber is enlarged by reason of forward movement of 'the bullet the effective density of the powder charge is reduced and the propelling effect is materially lessened.

An important factor is the resilience of the retainer. Due to this, and the fact that the retainer is pressed firmly from the bore muzzle end, the bullet is held snugly against the powder and there is no chance for any slight hammering of the bullet against the retainer by reason of any slack, or clearance; this hammering being caused by shipping of the gun to the field or lowering into casing. There is no metal-to-metal jar possible with this resilient material.

Various changes and alternate arrangements may be made withln'the scope of the appended claim, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

let, of: a retainer sleeve adapted to fit said here and engage the conical end 01' said bullet, said vsleeve being initially uniform in wall thickness and without bevel at its end engaging the bullet,

but adapted to be deformed into conformity with the conical end of the bullet upon being crowded against the bullet. said sleeve when so crowded, forming a resilient element under compression vending, upon expanding, to urge the bullet further into the gun bore.

GEORGE F. TURECHEK. 

